For the 2024 season, Patch piglets are priced at $365 without papers, or $525 for registered piglets. KuneKune pigs thrive in the company of other pigs, so a discount of $100 is offered for anyone purchasing two piglets.
In the last decade, KuneKune’s have experienced some popularity, especially as pets, and many breeders price their piglets at more than $600 apiece. I will gladly sell piglets to the independently wealthy, but my larger goal is to encourage those who have some bit of space to raise their own protein…and befriend a pig in the process. Kune’s are a wonderful addition to the farmstead rotation, and Patch pigs are priced to make quality pork affordable for those of average means.
Piglets are ready to go to new homes when they are about eight weeks old and fully transitioned to solid food. Patch piglets are out of top-of-the-line registered parents that have been selected for amiability, good health, weight gain, and ease of management. Piglets have been extensively handled and are fully acclimated to humans, chickens, cats, dogs, geese, blasts from the neighbor’s firing range, powerful wind gusts, and noisy Guinea hens.
AKKPS registration papers of parents are available.
If you are interested in visiting to look at piglets or just want more information on the dollars involved, feel free to get in touch via email (jennifer@thegravelpatch.com). Individual situations vary tremendously, and I’m glad to talk through your potential price-per-pound for homegrown pork. By way of reference, here’s a listing of how those calculations come out at the Patch…
Feed Cost
Feed cost is affected by individual pig size and appetite, as well as access to forage. Because rehabilitation of grazing is a real concern at the Patch, I supplement with high-quality organic pig feed, and spend an average of $225 on feed for each pig in a year. For a pig that lives happily at the Patch for eighteen months before being butchered, that is a total cost of $338. Most folks who raise Kune’s have far lower feed costs because they feed less purchased feed (they have more abundant grazing) or they use feed that costs less (the Big Sky Organics feed that Patch pigs eat is of a quality that humans could safely ingest, and conventional feed is far more affordable).
Butchering Cost
I am fortunate to have access to a local butcher shop that will kill and process on-site. This allows Patch pigs to remain stress-free from birth to death. Butchering costs vary widely depending on location, so it is a good idea to check out your options well in advance. Butchering and processing costs me around $275 per pig, which includes the curing of bacon and hams.
Lard
KuneKune’s carry a full coat of fat, which can be easily rendered into sumptuous lard. Grass-fed lard is a tasty staple, and a source of fat that earlier generations depended on. Rendering and using lard brings a double bonus – I save money on other oils and gain some dandy flavor for my sauteed vegetables, scrambled eggs, and fried onions. The value of rendered lard is factored into these calculations.
Benefits of Raising Your Own
If you raise your own pig, you are getting food that tastes better and is an ethical product. Most folks that purchase a Patch pig can pay for the piglet, supplemental feed, and butchering for around the same out-of-pocket amount that they would spend per-pound for organic pork at the grocery store. Be forewarned, though – you should not consider raising a heritage hog as a significant money-saving endeavor.
If you feel uncomfortable eating an animal that you’ve come to know and love, check out Max's post - Finally, I Get to Eat My Friends - which addresses some of the relevant issues.
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